Monday, 1 September 2008 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC27R0
Tasmania in winter 2008: below-average rain again
Despite several rain (and snow) events during the three months, winter 2008 overall was another season of below-average rain for Tasmania, continuing a pattern that extends back to at least 2006. Days were mostly warmer than average, but nights were mostly cooler than average.
Separate summaries are available for the three months of winter: June, July and August 2008. An archive of previous seasonal summaries for Tasmania is also available, as are summaries for other states and many other climate summaries and diagnostics.
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Details
Continuing dry: There were several rainfall events through winter, especially in June, but overall it was another dry season, coming on top of the dry winters of 2006 and 2007. There were a few pockets with winter totals in the average band, notably in the far northwest, King Island, the upper Derwent Valley and the far northeast. The west coastal strip and the northeast were markedly drier than average, with sites such as Fingal, Swansea and St Marys receiving less than 100 mm for the whole season.
Daytime temperatures near average: Most days in June were warmer than usual but that the pattern gradually reversed as the season progressed and by August most days were cooler than usual - until the last few days. Over the whole winter period, average day time temperatures were generally within half a degree of average: a little warmer than usual in most areas but a little cooler in some inland locations.Some very cold nights: There were several very cold nights, especially in July and August, but nights were generally mild through June. Overall there were more cool than warm minima, with some very cold nights in each month, so winter night time temperatures were mostly around half a degree below average. The exceptions were the northwest coast and far south, where minima were slightly above normal. The coldest night was −10.2°C at Liawenee on 4 July. Flinders Island and Scottsdale had their lowest winter mean daily minimum temperature for several years.
Changing weather patterns: Westerly winds dominated in June, but in July there was a distinct lack of westerlies although a number of low pressure systems passed near the state. August saw a return to mostly westerlies, but with a southerly influence. There were several snow events during winter, with falls settling below 500 metres on at least six occasions; one of the "snowiest" winters for many years.
Further information
Ian Barnes-KeoghanMeteorologist
Tasmania and Antarctica Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 6221 2043
Email climate.tas@bom.gov.au
Extremes
| Hottest day Highest temperature | 19.7°C at Scamander on 27 Jun |
|---|---|
| Warmest days on average Highest mean daily maximum temperature |
14.6°C at Bicheno (Council Depot) |
| Coolest days on average Lowest mean daily maximum temperature |
3.3°C at Mount Wellington |
| Coldest day Lowest daily maximum temperature |
−2.6°C at Mount Wellington on 21 Jul |
| Coldest night Lowest temperature |
−10.2°C at Liawenee on 4 Jul |
| Coolest nights on average Lowest mean daily minimum temperature |
−2.1°C at Liawenee |
| Warmest nights on average Highest mean daily minimum temperature |
9.1°C at Hogan Island |
| Warmest night Highest daily minimum temperature |
13.4°C at Swan Island on 11 Jun |
| Wettest overall Highest total rainfall | 765.6 mm at Cradle Valley (Waldheim) |
| Driest overall Lowest total rainfall | 63.0 mm at Mount Morriston (Macquarie River) |
| Wettest day Highest daily rainfall |
82.6 mm at Cradle Valley (Waldheim) on 27 Jun |
| Highest wind gust | 180 km/h at Hogan Island on 26 Jun |
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Records
| Record lowest total winter rainfall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total rainfall for winter 2008 (mm) | Previous lowest for winter |
Years of record |
Normal for winter |
||
| Cape Sorell | 240.2 | 277.7 | in 1934 | 84 | 449.6 |
| Lowest total winter rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total rainfall for winter 2008 (mm) | Most recent lower for winter |
Years since lower |
Normal for winter |
||
| Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) | 98.0 | 95.8 | in 1908 | 99 | 240.8 |
| Lowest winter mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean daily minimum temperature for winter 2008 (°C) | Most recent lower for winter |
Years since lower |
Normal for winter |
||
| Flinders Island Airport | 5.4 | 5.3 | in 1987 | 21 | 6.6 |
| Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) | 3.5 | 2.3 | in 1978 | 21 | 3.9 |
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Summaries
In this table, key sites have been highlighted to make them easier to find. This table is very wide and may not fit if printed.
| Summary statistics for winter 2008 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures for winter (°C) |
Minimum temperatures for winter (°C) |
Rainfall for winter (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for winter 2008 |
Diff from normal |
Highest for winter 2008 |
Mean for winter 2008 |
Diff from normal |
Lowest for winter 2008 |
Total for winter 2008 |
Normal for winter |
Rank of winter 2008 |
Fraction of winter normal |
|||
| Northern (district 91) | ||||||||||||
| Bridport | 13.7 | +0.1 | 18.1 | 4 Jun | 5.8 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 4 Jul | 207.4 | 239.0 | average | 87% |
| Burnie | 13.5 | +0.4 | 17.2 | 18 Jun | 7.2 | +1.0 | 2.2 | 4 Jul | 243.2 | 338.2 | low | 72% |
| Cape Grim BAPS | 12.8 | +0.1 | 17.0 | 5 Jun | 8.3 | −0.2 | 3.3 | 29 Jul | 312.8 | 270.4 | average | 116% |
| Cressy Research Station | 12.2 | −0.3 | 17.3 | 3 Jun | 1.4 | −0.4 | −5.6 | 4 Jul | 118.2 | |||
| Devonport Airport | 13.2 | +0.2 | 17.0 | 4 Jun | 5.1 | +0.2 | −1.3 | 22 Aug | 191.5 | 263.7 | low | 73% |
| Launceston | 13.4 | +0.3 | 17.6 | 30 Aug | 2.8 | 0.0 | −2.4 | 4 Jul | 151.0 | 224.4 | low | 67% |
| Launceston Airport | 12.2 | 16.7 | 30 Aug | 2.3 | −3.5 | 13 Aug | 121.8 | |||||
| Launceston Airport Comparison | 11.7 | +0.2 | 15.7 | 30 Aug | 2.6 | −0.1 | −3.3 | 4 Jul | ||||
| Low Head | 13.1 | 0.0 | 16.9 | 4 Jun | 6.9 | −0.2 | 2.1 | 4 Jul | 205.2 | 213.3 | average | 96% |
| Luncheon Hill | 10.7 | −0.3 | 16.3 | 28 Aug | 4.9 | −0.3 | −1.3 | 22 Aug | 447.0 | 526.3 | low | 85% |
| Marrawah | 12.7 | +0.2 | 17.0 | 5 Jun | 7.1 | +0.1 | 2.3 | 22 Aug | 363.0 | 389.7 | average | 93% |
| Scottsdale | 12.3 | 0.0 | 17.5 | 4 Jun | 3.5 | −0.4 | −2.4 | 13 Aug | 227.4 | 342.2 | very low | 66% |
| Sheffield School Farm | 11.1 | −0.2 | 16.3 | 4 Jun | 3.6 | −0.1 | −2.3 | 29 Jul | ||||
| Smithton Aerodrome | 13.6 | +0.1 | 17.6 | 5 Jun | 4.9 | −0.1 | −2.6 | 29 Jul | 306.0 | 317.4 | average | 96% |
| Wynyard Airport | 13.4 | +0.4 | 17.3 | 19 Jun | 4.1 | +0.3 | −2.4 | 4 Jul | 367.9 | 352.5 | average | 104% |
| East Coast (district 92) | ||||||||||||
| Bicheno | 14.6 | +0.2 | 18.9 | 31 Aug | 6.4 | 0.0 | 1.9 | 5 Jul | 148.0 | 162.7 | average | 91% |
| Eddystone Point | 14.4 | +1.0 | 17.7 | 5 Jun | 7.5 | +0.1 | 2.2 | 13 Aug | 173.8 | 222.6 | low | 78% |
| Fingal | 12.7 | 0.0 | 16.7 | 28 Aug | 0.7 | −0.1 | −5.6 | 23 Aug | 72.6 | 178.4 | very low | 41% |
| Friendly Beaches | 13.7 | −0.5 | 19.0 | 31 Aug | 5.3 | −0.8 | −0.5 | 5 Jul | 134.8 | |||
| Lake Leake | 9.0 | +0.1 | 13.6 | 7 Jul | −0.4 | −0.9 | −7.6 | 4 Jul | 98.0 | 240.8 | very low | 41% |
| Maria Island | 12.9 | 17.3 | 11 Jun | 7.2 | 2.5 | 22 Jul | 93.0 | |||||
| Orford | 13.2 | −0.3 | 18.5 | 11 Jun | 3.9 | 0.0 | −1.6 | 5 Jul | 102.2 | 169.1 | low | 60% |
| Scamander | 14.1 | −0.3 | 19.7 | 27 Jun | 5.2 | +0.1 | −0.2 | 13 Aug | 120.4 | 163.2 | average | 74% |
| St Helens Aerodrome | 13.7 | 17.6 | 27 Jun | 4.7 | −0.3 | 4 Jul | 120.2 | |||||
| Swan Island | 13.5 | 16.8 | 9 Jun | 8.3 | 3.5 | 23 Aug | 194.4 | |||||
| Swansea Post Office | 13.7 | −0.1 | 19.5 | 31 Aug | 3.8 | −0.3 | −1.3 | 5 Jul | 81.0 | 148.4 | low | 55% |
| Midlands (district 93) | ||||||||||||
| Ross | 11.9 | +0.1 | 18.1 | 30 Aug | 1.5 | −0.3 | −4.3 | 22 Aug | 78.6 | 120.2 | low | 65% |
| Southeast (district 94) | ||||||||||||
| Bull Bay | 12.5 | −0.3 | 18.0 | 31 Aug | 5.4 | −0.6 | 0.2 | 13 Aug | 140.4 | 156.6 | average | 90% |
| Campania | 13.4 | 18.5 | 31 Aug | 3.3 | −2.8 | 17 Jun | 105.6 | |||||
| Cape Bruny | 12.3 | −0.2 | 17.0 | 31 Aug | 6.3 | −0.5 | 2.1 | 13 Aug | 198.6 | 231.6 | low | 86% |
| Cape Bruny Lighthouse | 11.9 | +0.3 | 16.7 | 30 Jun | 6.4 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 5 Jul | 268.2 | 278.1 | average | 96% |
| Dover | 12.5 | −0.1 | 17.8 | 29 Jun | 2.7 | −1.1 | −2.1 | 25 Jul | 205.8 | 252.5 | average | 82% |
| Geeveston | 12.3 | −0.2 | 17.4 | 30 Jun | 1.7 | −0.7 | −3.9 | 5 Jul | 238.2 | 261.6 | average | 91% |
| Grove | 12.7 | +0.4 | 18.5 | 29 Jun | 1.6 | −0.7 | −3.9 | 5 Jul | 165.6 | 209.1 | average | 79% |
| Grove | 12.5 | 18.5 | 29 Jun | 1.1 | −4.5 | 4 Jul | 168.6 | |||||
| Hobart | 13.1 | +0.9 | 18.1 | 29 Jun | 4.9 | −0.1 | 0.3 | 30 Jul | 123.8 | 159.1 | average | 78% |
| Hobart Airport | 13.3 | +0.4 | 19.0 | 31 Aug | 4.2 | −0.3 | −0.4 | 17 Jun | 77.0 | 120.4 | low | 64% |
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 11.4 | +0.2 | 16.8 | 30 Aug | 7.2 | +0.4 | 1.0 | 13 Aug | 243.6 | 370.9 | low | 66% |
| Melton Mowbray | 11.7 | −0.3 | 17.0 | 18 Jun | 1.8 | −0.4 | −4.0 | 30 Jul | 93.0 | 109.4 | average | 85% |
| Mount Wellington | 3.3 | +0.5 | 12.2 | 17 Jun | −1.4 | 0.0 | −7.5 | 13 Aug | ||||
| Tasman Island | 11.0 | 14.7 | 31 Aug | 6.5 | 0.4 | 13 Aug | 209.0 | |||||
| Tunnack Fire Station | 9.9 | −0.1 | 15.3 | 31 Aug | 1.5 | −0.5 | −3.9 | 22 Aug | 102.4 | 147.3 | low | 70% |
| Derwent Valley (district 95) | ||||||||||||
| Bushy Park | 12.3 | +0.5 | 18.6 | 29 Jun | 0.9 | −1.1 | −3.8 | 5 Jul | 125.0 | 150.9 | average | 83% |
| Maydena Post Office | 10.6 | −0.6 | 16.7 | 29 Jun | 2.0 | −0.3 | −3.2 | 22 Aug | 282.8 | 354.9 | low | 80% |
| Ouse Fire Station | 11.9 | −0.6 | 17.6 | 29 Jun | 1.0 | −0.5 | −5.1 | 5 Jul | 120.0 | 160.8 | average | 75% |
| Tarraleah Village | 13.8 | 29 Jun | 0.9 | +0.4 | −3.9 | 5 Jul | 324.4 | 340.8 | average | 95% | ||
| Central Plateau (district 96) | ||||||||||||
| Butlers Gorge | 8.3 | +0.9 | 13.4 | 28 Aug | −0.4 | −0.3 | −7.8 | 25 Jul | 468.0 | 507.0 | average | 92% |
| Lake St Clair National Park | 7.8 | +0.1 | 13.4 | 28 Aug | −0.6 | −0.7 | −6.5 | 22 Aug | 534.8 | 612.2 | average | 87% |
| Liawenee | 6.2 | 12.4 | 15 Jun | −2.1 | −10.2 | 4 Jul | 237.2 | |||||
| West Coast (district 97) | ||||||||||||
| Hartz Mountain | 6.4 | −0.2 | 14.8 | 17 Jun | 1.3 | −0.4 | −3.6 | 13 Aug | ||||
| Mount Read | 3.8 | −0.3 | 11.4 | 16 Jun | 0.2 | −0.2 | −4.9 | 22 Aug | ||||
| Scotts Peak Dam | 9.7 | 17.1 | 30 Aug | 3.1 | −1.6 | 30 Jul | 549.4 | |||||
| Strahan Aerodrome | 12.8 | +0.2 | 18.0 | 30 Aug | 5.1 | −0.3 | −1.2 | 22 Aug | 395.6 | 495.9 | low | 80% |
| Strathgordon Village | 9.4 | −0.1 | 15.8 | 30 Aug | 3.2 | −0.2 | −2.0 | 29 Jul | 689.1 | 772.3 | average | 89% |
| Warra | 8.9 | 13.8 | 30 Jun | 2.4 | −2.3 | 30 Jul | 481.8 | |||||
| King Island (district 98) | ||||||||||||
| King Island Airport | 13.7 | +0.2 | 17.1 | 9 Jun | 7.3 | −0.4 | 0.7 | 29 Jul | 364.2 | 321.7 | high | 113% |
| Flinders Island (district 99) | ||||||||||||
| Flinders Island Airport | 14.2 | +0.5 | 18.7 | 18 Jun | 5.4 | −1.2 | −2.1 | 23 Aug | 148.2 | 233.2 | low | 64% |
| Hogan Island | 13.3 | 16.7 | 10 Jun | 9.1 | 4.2 | 22 Jul | 169.8 | |||||
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Notes
This statement has been prepared based on information available at 11 am on Monday 1 September 2008. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.
Normals are long-term means based on observations from
all
available years of record, which vary widely from site to site.
They are not shown for sites with less than 10 years of record, as they
cannot then be calculated reliably.
The median
is sometimes more representative than the
mean
of long-term average ("normal") rain.
The Rank indicates how rainfall this time compares with
the
climate record for the site,
based on the decile
ranking (very low rainfall is in decile 1, low in
decile 2 or 3,
normal in decile 4 to 7, high in decile 8 or 9 and very
high is in decile 10).
The Fraction of normal shows how much rain has fallen this
time as a
percentage
of the long-term mean.
Further information
Ian Barnes-KeoghanMeteorologist
Tasmania and Antarctica Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 6221 2043
Email climate.tas@bom.gov.au